BOWLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 107, 9 May 1927, Page 14

BOWLING.

VISITORS FROM THE WAIKATO.

SATURDAY'S DOINGS.

(By TRUNDLER.)

Saturday was notable in providing the long-expected meeting between the Auckland and South Auckland centres. Some time ago Mr. J. W. Hardley, as Dominion president, offered a shield for annual competition between the executive of his own centre and that of their powerful, neighbours, and the scheme was heartily taken up by the president of the Auckland centre, Mr. James Pascoe. This resulted in a visit on Saturday from nine members of the South Auckland centre executive. The Auckland executive met them on their arrival by train, and during the morning a conference was held, when final arrangements were made for each executive to visit the other each season, to play for the shisld. The visitors were entertained at lunch by Mr. Pascoe, and again on the Devonport green in the afternoon, where they were joined by four members of the executive of the Northern Waikato sub-centre. Competitive games were not played, the visitors and the local members being intermingled in friendly contests. Most of the visitors were entertained by Mr. Pascoe at dinner, and then taken to the Devonport Orphans' Club, where they were the guests of honour.

Tournament at Henderson. The Henderson Bowling Club last Saturday made their final successful bid for recognition as one of the virile suburban clubs of Auckland, for they conducted a very enjoyable all-day tournament. Twelve rinks competed, including those entered by the local club, and these were divided into two sections, each rink playing five games of eleven heads. The section winners were R. Milieu, A. W. Blanchard, A. C. Mclntyre, .1. Mingins (Epsom) and J. Roberts, Hall, W. Smith, G. Wrightson (Carlton), who each got through their section without a loss, the Carlton rink rather easily, and the Epsom rink after three games which were very closely contested. One of these, against H. J. Bray (Remuera), was only decided after an extra head. The final is to be played to-morrow, on the Remuera green, and it is rather an interesting coincidence that it is between the same clubs as played the final on the same green in the Easter Fours. It will be still more interesting to see if they make it a little more exciting than the Easter final was.

The Henderson green is well grassed, and on Saturday was rather heavy, as might be expected on a dull day, but if the green is carefully nursed during the winter it should become very popular next season, and will no doubt attract a large membership. Its present roll includes a few with plenty of ginger, so the club should have a successful career.

A novel rink was taken out by Mr. G. R. Hosking, the well-known Carlton skip. Instead of taking the usual elub members, his assistants were his three sons, and although they had never played in open company, their only experience being on their own private green, they managed to get two wins in rather a hot section. There are very few, if any, family teams of this nature in Auckland, the nearest approach being the Har'dley family, of West End, where four bowlers have competed in tournaments for years. At Onehunga, however, there used to be a family team consisting of three generations, that of Mr. F. W. Court, but since, his accident the old gentleman has been unable to enjoy his usual game of bowls. After rather a long interval, occasioned ■by the Easter tournament and the indifferent weather, the usual weekly challenge match for the Denison Pins took place last Wednesday, with the following result:—F. Worsfold, F. Wise, C. E. Hardlev, I. Clarke (West End) challengers 18, v. F. Warren, J. Cook, G. Wrightson, G. R. Hosking 4. This week's challenge is from the donor of the trophies, W. Denison, Dominion Road, and the winner will then meet W. C. Young, Remuera.

Figures are often quoted regarding record bowling scores, fifty or sixtypoints being sometimes scored. Last week's challenge match, however, was probably a record the other way, for it would seem almost incredible that only 22 points should be scored in a match which appeared so one-sided as to finish at 18 to 4. As a matter of fact the play was very even, but West End played a careful game, usually securing the winning point. Prospective New Zealand competitors in the Australian carnival in Melbourne next Christmas will take it as a compliment that at the annual meeting of the council last month a special resolution was carried, allowing competitors from the Dominion to play with only one foot on the mat. This is a very graceful concession, which will be much appreciated, but it is hoped that none will try to go one better, and play with no foot on the mat at all, as they often do here. Obituary. Bowlers will regret to learn of the decease of two highly esteemed members of the Dominion Road Club. Mr. Wm. Simmonds was at the Easter tournment at Cambridge, but after the subsequent pairs tournament he seemed to have a«kmd of heart seizure. Recovering sufficiently to return by motor, his illness was not regarded as serious, but he gradually weakened and died on Wednesday morning. While not one of the most prominent players of this club, Mr. Simmonds usually took part in the tournaments, but it was in the social activities of the club that he made his mark, for he never spared either himself or his pocket in promoting the welfare of his fellow members. His keen interest in his club, particularly in winter bowling, was recognised at last annual meeting, .when he was elected a vice-president. The death of Mr. "Bon" Allsopp was even more sudden, and the intimation of his early decease on Saturday would come as-a great shock to those who only knew him as one who- always appeared to be in the pink of condition. However, he had to go into hospital for what was thought to be a minor operation, and succumbed on Saturday. He will be very much missed at tournaments, for he has competed in most of them for years past, while the championship of his own club in 1924 and 1925, after being runner-up to Dr. Moir in 1923, gave him an established place in the bowling world. Recognised as a good sport, a good winner and a good loser, his breezy manner always created a hearty. atmosphere, whether on the green or in the street.

Both funerals were attended by a large number of bowlers and other friends, and both were conducted by brethren of the Maaonio Order* ' _